US imposes 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products

The United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada immediately said it would retaliate, after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement, "The retaliation escalates the trade conflict and calls into question the future of a North American trade pact between the United States, Canada and Mexico that is crucial to industry in all three countries."

Carney blamed Washington for the breakdown, saying “last-minute changes in the US proposed terms were unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal", adding that he had suspended negotiations and directed Canada’s negotiating team to return to Ottawa.

WAM